Electric switch



-March 6, 1928.

W. G. YOUNG ELECTRIC SWITCH Filed Abril 50, I925 Patented Mar. 6, 1928.I

UNITED STATES 1,661,352 PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIS G. YOUNG, OE DAYTON, OHIO, ASSIGNOR, BY MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, TO

DELCO-REMY CORPORATION, OF DAYTON,

OHIO, A CORPORATION OF DELAWARE.

ELECTRIC SWITCH.

Application filed April 30, 1925. Serial No. 26,954.

This invention relates to electrical switches, particularly of theplunger type, by which one to-and-fro motion of the plunger causes aswitch to be closed and the subsequent motion of the plunger causes theswitch to be opened.

It is an object of the invention to provide a switch which is moresimple in construction than switches heretofore manufactured and whichcan be made at relatively low cost.

Further objects and advantages of the present invention will be apparentfrom the following description, reference being had to the accompanyingdrawings, wherein a preferred form of the present invention is clearlyshown.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a plan view of a switch embodying the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a sectional view on line 2-2 of Fig. 1;

Figs. 3 and 4 are sectional views taken respectively on lines 33 and 4-4of Fig. 2;

Figs. 5 and 6 are wiring diagrams illustrating a use of the presentinvention.

Referring to the drawings, the switch comprises a mounting bracket 20,to which is attached a member 21 providing the switch bottom and sidewalls, said member 21 being substantially U-shaped in longitudinalsection. The slde margins of member 21 are provided with grooves 22 forreceiving sideplates 23 and 24. The plates 23 and 24 are each providedwith tongues' 25 which are received by suitable openings provided in thebracket 20, which provides the top wall of the switch case. The member21 is also provided with tongues 26 which are received by and attachedto the bracket 20 in a manner similar to the tongues 25. It is apparent,therefore, that the parts 20, 21, 23 and 24 constitute the switch case.The bracket part 20 is provided with holes 27 for receiving screws orbolts for attaching the switch to the underside of a suitable support orplatform 28 such as the floor board of the automotive vehicle. Thebracket 20 supports a tube 30 which has its upper end telescopicallyengaged by a switch button 31 providing a cover for the tube. The button31 is attached to the upper end of a switch plunger 32 having its lowerend provided with a finger 33 for engaging a ratchet wheel 34, which issupported by a rod 35 having a reduced end 36 mounted in anon-conducting bushing 37 attached to the side plate 23. The rod 35 isprovided with a reduced threaded end 38 extending through the side plate24 and cooperating with a nut 39 which secures the rod in position andalso clamps between the rod and the side plate 24, a non-conductingswitch contact-support member 40, carrying a stationary contact 41 and42 connected with terminal screws 43 and 44, respectively, which areinsulatingly supported by the switch case 21. The hole in the plate 24which receives the threaded extension 38 of the rod 35, is larger thansaid extension, and a non-conducting Washer 45 is located between awasher 46 and is clamped by the nut 39 against the plate 24.

In this manner the rod 35 is insulatingly supported by the switch case.The rod 35 supports a switch spider hub 47 which is insulatinglyconnected with the ratchet 34 and is driven thereby. The spider hub 47is attached to switch spider having four equidistant arms 48 eachprovided with a cupped end 49. The spider arms 48 cooperate withdepressions 50 provided in the switch contact plate 40 and in thecontacts 41 and 42. These depressions are equidistant so that they maycooperate with the switch spider arms 48 in order to index the arms indifferent positions.

The plunger rod 32 is maintained in the position shown in Figs. 2 and 3by a spring 51 interposed between the button 31 and a washer 52, havingone edge 52" resting against the bracket member 20 and the opposite sidethereof bearing against a roller or ball 53 which maintains the washer52 in a tilted position, the ball 53 being retained between the undersurface of the washer and a downwardly-inclined flange 54 which isadjacent the opening in the bracket 20 the headlamp circuits of anautomobile, it.

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- then without the dimmer .nected respectively with a bright bulb orfilament 62, and the dim bulb or filament 63 of the headlamp. Onedownward movement of the plunger 32 will cause one of the switch arms 48to engage the contact 42 as shown in Fig. 5, thereby causing the lamp toburn dimly. The next downward movement will cause the switch arm toengage the contact 41, thereby connecting the bright bulb or filamentwith the battery. Therefore, successive downward movements of theplunger causes the battery to be connected alternately with the brightor dim bulbs or filaments.

If the headlamp has but one bulb or fila-' ment and a dimmer resistanceis used, the resistance designated 64 in Fig. 6, is connected betweenthe contacts 42 and 41. Therefore, it is apparent that successivedownward movements of the plunger will connect the battery with theheadlamp alternately through the dimmer resistance and resistance, sothat the headlamp will burn alternately dimly and brightly.

While the form of embodimentof the invention as herein disclosed,constitutes a preferred form, it is to be understood that other formsmight be adopted, all coming within the scope of the claims whichfollow.

What is claimed is as follows:

1. An electric switch comprising, in combination, a rotatable contact, aratchet wheel connected therewith, a ratchet pawl mounted for straightline and swinging movement, a

spring for returning the pawl with a' straight-line movement to initialposition, and means engaged by and cooperating with the spring andtending to urge the pawl with a swinging movement toward the ratchetwheel.

Q. An electric switch comprising, in combination, a rotatable contact, aratchet wheel connected therewith, a plunger mounted for straight lineand swinging movement, and

acetate having a manually operable member at one end thereof and aratchet pawl at the other end thereof, a spring urging the plunger inone directionv of its straight line movement, and a camming devicecooperating with the spring and bearing against the plunger and tendingto urge the pawl end thereof toward a camming device including a washersurrounding the plunger and engaged by the spring, one side of thewasher rests on the switch housing, the other side engages a rollerinterposed between said washer and housing thus causing the spring tourge the plunger toward the side of the switch in a swinging movement sothat the pawl of the plunger is held in constant engagement with saidratchet wheel.

4. An electric switch comprising, in combination, a housing having anapertured cover, a portion of the edge of said aperture being inclinedso as to extend into the lions ing, a ratchet wheel in the housing, acontact adapted to be operated by the rotation of the ratchet wheel, aplunger carried by the housing and adapted to operate with straight-lineand swinging movement, said plunger extending through the aperture inthe switch housing and having a pawl portion within said housing adaptedto engage the ratchet wheel, a spring adapted to urge the plunger in onedirection of its straightline movement, a washer surrounding the plungerand engaged by one end of the spring, the one side of the washer restingupon the cover of the switch, and a roller interposed between theinclined edge of the cover aperture and the washer, said roller exertinga side pressure upon the plunger, due to the action of the spring,whereby the plunger is held in position in which the pawl portionthereof engages the ratchet wheel.

lln testimony whereof ll hereto affix my signature.

WILLIS G}. YQUNG.

